No Parent Should Have to Fear a School Shooting
The Tacloban school shooting claimed young lives, shattered families, and left an entire community grieving. As parents mourn, one painful truth remains: schools should never become places where children have to choose between learning and survival
A school is supposed to be a place where children learn, grow, and dream about their future. It should never become a place where parents fear receiving a phone call that changes their lives forever.
But that became reality for families in Tacloban City. A shooting at San Jose National High School left three students dead and at least 20 others injured. Authorities say two minors, aged 14 and 15, allegedly opened fire inside the campus, turning an ordinary school day into one of the deadliest school-related attacks in recent Philippine history.
As the nation struggles to understand what happened, parents across the country are left asking the same question: How did children become unsafe in the very place meant to protect them?
Photo from GMA News
Tragedy of School Shootings
Among those mourned is 15-year-old Chris Lorenz Fabian, whose final moments revealed extraordinary courage. According to Chris’ grandfather, Rodrigo, it was his being a “boy scout” that gave him that courage.
“He was a good boy. Perhaps being a Boy Scout influenced him to do that,” he said in an interview with Inquirer.
“Actually po, napakabait po na bata po ’yan. Simula maliit hanggang ngayon, napakabait na. Kaya po siguro naisip niyang iligtas ‘yung mga kasama niya kaysa sa sarili niya,” his father, Christopher Fabian, shared in an interview with GMA News.
According to Chris’ grandmother, Aleth Fabian, the teenager tried to hold a classroom door shut as the gunman attempted to force it open.
“Kasi po nakabukas ‘yung pintuan, naririnig nila yung putukan. Sinarado niya yung pinto… Hindi niya binitawan,” she recalled. “Sabi po nila [his classmates] hero siya kasi kung hindi daw po niya ginawa ‘yon, marami pa raw pong mamatay sa mga kaklase niya.”
Family members also revealed that Chris was known for helping classmates, even leaving money at the school canteen so hungry students could eat. His father said, “Siya po ‘yung talagang binubully. Pero di man siya nagsusumbong… gusto niya marami siyang kaibigan.”
His story reminds us that behind every statistic is a child who was loved, a family whose future has been altered forever, and classmates who will carry the memory of that day for years to come.
Grief Remains The Heaviest Burden
No child should have to shield classmates from gunfire. No parent should have to identify a child lost to violence. No community should have to wonder whether school is still safe.
The legacy of Chris Lorenz Fabian should not only be remembered for his bravery. It should also challenge all of us—parents, schools, communities, and policymakers—to ensure that children never again face such a tragedy inside a classroom. Because school shootings are not something families should learn to live with. They are something society must work together to prevent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two minors allegedly opened fire inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City on June 22, 2026, killing three students and injuring at least 20 others.
Chris Lorenz Fabian was a 15-year-old student who reportedly tried to protect his classmates by holding a classroom door shut during the attack.
Witness accounts and family statements say his actions may have prevented more students from being harmed.
Children often need emotional reassurance, trauma-informed counseling, open communication, and ongoing mental health support.
Parents should use age-appropriate language, answer questions honestly, validate emotions, and reassure children about safety measures being taken.
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